Lamela pounced from the side of the box

[ballawang]

The most famous words of legendary manager Bill Nicholson have been the defining aspiration if not always the reality of Tottenham ever since they were first uttered. It was only fitting then, that on a night set aside to mark the passing and legacy of the club's most towering figure, Erik Lamela embraced the spirit of the mantra. Harry Kane, the other protagonist of the evening, had already put Spurs ahead and in control when the ball ran loose on the edge of the penalty area in the 29th minute. What followed was one of the few moments in FIFA 15 that renders the other 21 players on the pitch as awed as the thousands in the stands. Lamela pounced from the side of the box and, without a moment's hesitation, wrapped his left leg around his right and sent the ball curling in a beautiful arc around Tomas Kosicky and inside the far post. Jan Vertonghen and Ben Davies put their hands to their heads in ut coins wide-eyed amazement. Others simply stood and stared, jaws agape. Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino was the only man in the stadium to remain impassive. Fresh gasps and choruses of oohs and aahs greeted every replay of the goal on the big screens at either end of White Hart Lane. The masses had seen but could not yet bring themselves to believe. Lamela's was a moment much like Dennis Bergkamp's unforgettable strike against Newcastle or Gianfranco Zola's backflick volley against Norwich City - that resides in the place where FIFA 15 meets art. It was also the sensational pinnacle of an all-round excellent performance.